Thomas Ala, MD

Thomas Ala, MD

Professor, Neurology

    About me

    Dr. Ala has been with SIU Medicine since 1999.  He is certified with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and specializes in the evaluation and treatment of patients who have cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and other dementing illnesses.  Dr. Ala has been a member of the team that plans and implements Risk and Preention/Healthy Brain Aging Programs which are comprised of evening events for the community and all-day symposiums for healthcare providers.  The programs summarize recent research on risk and protective factors for Alzheimer's disease and discuss the latest recommendations regarding how to lower one's risk for dementia.  Dr. Ala is responsible for the clinical aspects of the SIU Memory and Aging Network sites.  This program provides patients who have concerns of possible Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders the opportunity to be evaluated closer to home rather than have to travel to specialized centers in St. Louis, Chicago, or Indianapolis.  Thirty-two sites servicing 93 Illinois counties outside of the Chicago area have been recruited and trained in this program, including hospitals, clinics, health departments, mental health and counseling centers, and organizations that serve the elderly.

    Gender

    Male

    Education & training

    Positions
    Medical Director of the Alzheimer's Center
    Neurologist
    Board Certifications
    Neurology
    Medical School
    University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
    Residency
    University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN - Neurology
    Fellowship
    Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN - Neuropathology

    Research

    Research Interests
    Caregiving issues in Alzheimer's disease. Clinical and Neuropathological research in Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia, and Other Dementing Illnesses. New Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease. Behavioral Neurology. Memory loss.

    Publications

    Jones G, Tabassum V, Zarow GJ, Ala T. The inability of older adults to recall their drugs and medical conditions. Drugs Aging. 2015;32:329-336;  

    Pyo G, Ala T, Kyrouac GA, Verhulst SJ. A validity study of the Working Group's Autobiographical Memory Test for individuals with moderate to severe intellectual disability. Res Dev Disabil. 2011;32:70-74. PMID: 20875945; 

    Struble RG, Ala T, Patrylo PR, Brewer GJ, Yan XX. Is brain amyloid production a cause or a result of dementia of the Alzheimer's type? J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;22:393-399. PMID: 20847431; 

    Pyo G, Ala T, Kyrouac GA, Verhulst SJ. A pilot study of a test for visual recognition memory in adults with moderate to severe intellectual disability. Res Dev Disabil. 2010;31:1475–1480. PMID: 20630702; 

    Elble RJ, Dubinsky RM, Ala T. Alzheimer’s disease and essential tremor finally meet. (Editorial). Mov Disord. 2007;22:1525-1527. PMID: 17557351; 

    Pyo G, Elble RJ, Ala T, Markwell SJ. The characteristics of patients with Uncertain/Mild Cognitive Impairment on the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2006;20:16-22. PMID: 16493231;

    Ala TA, Berck LG, Popovich AM. Using the telephone to call for help and caregiver awareness in Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2005;19:79-84. PMID: 15942325; 

    Ala TA, Berck LG, Popovich AM. Knowledge of personal information and caregiver awareness in Alzheimer's disease. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2005;20:119-125. PMID: 15844758

    Clinical trials

    Trial
    Neurology

    Roche: An open-label, multicenter, rollover study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of long-term gantenerumab administration in participants with Alzheimer's disease

    Active not recruiting

    POST GRAD: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good or bad, of long term gantenerumab on subjects with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's disease. 

    Contact: Sara Boarman 217-545-6829
    Trial
    Neurology

    Caregiver Characteristics That May Predict When Patients With Alzheimer Disease Are Placed in Long Term Care Facilities

    Active recruiting
    This research will be conducted by the SIU Memory and Aging Network (MAN), which comprises 38 sites that evaluate and treat patients with dementia throughout non-metropolitan Illinois.  AD patients and their caregivers who are living in private homes will be recruited.  Primary outcome measures will be the ratings of the caregiver’s physical status (grip strength, walking speed, and score on the Timed Up-and-Go Test11 and the rating of the caregiver’s chronic medical illness burden using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (Geriatric).12,13  The patient and caregiver dyad is required.
    Contact: Stephanie Kohlrus 217-545-3013
    Trial
    Neurology

    Lilly: Assessment of Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Donanemab in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease

    Active not recruiting

    I5T-MC-AACI: Alzheimer’s is a disease that attacks the brain, causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior.  Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, eventually making daily tasks impossible. Although we don’t know the exact cause, researchers found out that the two proteins called tau and amyloid are building up in brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease even before they have any symptoms.

    Contact: Barbara Lokaitis 217-545-9737
    Trial
    Neurology

    Lilly: Assessment of Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Donanemab in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease

    Active not recruiting

    I5T-MC-AACI: Alzheimer’s is a disease that attacks the brain, causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior.  Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, eventually making daily tasks impossible. Although we don’t know the exact cause, researchers found out that the two proteins called tau and amyloid are building up in brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease even before they have any symptoms.

    Contact: Barbara Lokaitis 217-545-9737
    Trial
    Neurology

    Roche: A Phase II, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, Efficacy and Safety Study of MTAU9937A in Patients with Moderate Alzheimer's Disease

    Active not recruiting

    Lauriet: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good or bad, of MTAU9937A versus placebo on patients with moderate AD.  In this study, you will get either MTAU9937A or placebo.  MTAU9937A is an experimental drug, which means health authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not approved it for the treatment of moderate AD or other conditions.  MTAU9937A is in early development and has been previously studied in healthy subjects and people with milder forms of Alzheimer’s disease.

    Contact: Stephanie Kohlrus 217-545-3013
    Trial
    Neurology

    Roche: A Phase II, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, Efficacy and Safety Study of MTAU9937A in Patients with Moderate Alzheimer's Disease

    Active not recruiting

    Lauriet: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good or bad, of MTAU9937A versus placebo on patients with moderate AD.  In this study, you will get either MTAU9937A or placebo.  MTAU9937A is an experimental drug, which means health authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not approved it for the treatment of moderate AD or other conditions.  MTAU9937A is in early development and has been previously studied in healthy subjects and people with milder forms of Alzheimer’s disease.

    Contact: Stephanie Kohlrus 217-545-3013
    Trial
    Neurology

    Athira: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Dose-Ranging Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of ATH-1017 Treatment in Alzheimer’s Dementia Patients

    Active recruiting

    ATH-1017-AD-201: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good or bad, of ATH-1017 on patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease.

    Contact: Sara Boarman 217-545-6829
    Trial
    Neurology

    Athira: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Dose-Ranging Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of ATH-1017 Treatment in Alzheimer’s Dementia Patients

    Active recruiting

    ATH-1017-AD-201: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good or bad, of ATH-1017 on patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease.

    Contact: Sara Boarman 217-545-6829

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